What can nearly 20 years of serving Catholic homeschool families teach us about homeschooling, parenthood, faith, and the education of our children?
In this special episode of the Homeschool Connections Podcast, host Kaitlin Zara sits down with Homeschool Connections co-founder Maureen Wittmann as she steps back from day-to-day leadership and enters a new season of semi-retirement.
Maureen looks back at the unlikely beginnings of Homeschool Connections—from a handful of online webinars and one nine-week government course to hundreds of LIVE and recorded Catholic homeschool courses serving families around the world. She shares the moments that convinced her this work mattered, what homeschool parents and students have taught her, and why she believes homeschooling can strengthen not only a child’s education but family relationships and faith.
Maureen also shares what she is most proud of, why Homeschool Connections has always put parents at the center of education, and why she is excited about the next generation of HSC leadership.
And for every homeschool parent who has ever wondered, “Am I enough?”, Maureen has a message she hopes you’ll remember: You are.
This Episode Is Sponsored by Homeschool Connections
Homeschool Connections exists to support parents, not replace them, as their children’s primary educators.
With LIVE interactive classes, hundreds of recorded courses, passionate Catholic instructors, and resources created specifically for homeschool families, HSC can help with the subjects you don’t feel equipped to teach while keeping you at the heart of your child’s education.
Explore courses and homeschool resources at:
https://homeschoolconnections.com/
Resources
Homeschool Connections Blog: https://homeschoolconnections.com/blog/
Meet Cate Godlewski, HSC’s New Associate Director: https://homeschoolconnections.com/podcasts/future-of-catholic-homeschooling/
Pregnancy Help Clinic: https://pregnancyhelpclinic.com/give/
In This Episode
Kaitlin and Maureen discuss:
- How Homeschool Connections began. And why neither Maureen nor co-founder Walter Crawford imagined what it would become
- Growing from a single government course to hundreds of live and recorded classes
- How genuine friendships and community can develop through online homeschool classes
- What nearly 20 years of Catholic homeschool families have taught Maureen about motherhood, marriage, faith, and community
- How outside classes can help parents continue homeschooling through high school without having to teach every subject themselves
- Why homeschooling can help lay the foundation for strong relationships with adult children
- What Maureen is most proud of after nearly two decades with Homeschool Connections
- The importance of teachers who don’t simply know their subjects, but genuinely love what they teach
- Why parents are encouraged to learn alongside their children
- Why Maureen knew the time was right to hand off some of her responsibilities
- Why she is confident in Associate Director Cate Godlewski and the next generation of HSC leadership
- How Homeschool Connections plans to continue adapting to changes in technology while remaining grounded in the Catholic faith
- Why HSC created its own learning management system specifically for homeschool families
- The threefold mission that has guided Homeschool Connections from the beginning
- Maureen’s message to parents who wonder whether they are enough
- Her heartfelt thank-you to the students she has been privileged to serve
One Big Takeaway
You don’t have to know everything to homeschool your children well. You just have to be willing to keep learning, seek help when you need it, and remember why you started.
Homeschool Connections itself grew from that principle. Maureen and Walter didn’t begin with a grand plan to build hundreds of courses. They listened to parents, trusted their teachers, responded to needs as they arose, and, as Maureen puts it, kept saying yes.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I enough to homeschool my child?”, Maureen’s answer is simple: Yes, you are.
The Mission Continues
Maureen may be stepping back from day-to-day leadership, but she isn’t saying goodbye to Homeschool Connections. She’ll continue working behind the scenes on the Homeschool Connections Podcast, the HSC Blog, and other creative projects she especially enjoys.
And she’s excited about what comes next.
With Co-Founder Walter Crawford, Associate Director Cate Godlewski, and the HSC team carrying the mission forward, Homeschool Connections will continue looking for new ways to serve Catholic homeschool families—from expanded grade-school options and free parent resources to thoughtful approaches to new technologies.
The methods and technology may change, but the mission remains: Give glory to God, serve homeschool parents, and give gifted teachers the freedom to share what they love.
About Maureen Wittmann
Maureen Wittmann is a co-founder of Homeschool Connections. After many years serving as Co-Director, she recently stepped back from day-to-day leadership into a semi-retired role. She continues working behind the scenes, producing the Homeschool Connections Podcast, editing the blog, and contributing to other creative projects she especially enjoys.
A popular Catholic homeschool author and speaker for 30 years, Maureen is passionate about encouraging parents and strengthening families through faith-filled education.
Maureen and her husband are the parents of seven children, all of whom were homeschooled and are now thriving in their own families and careers. She is also the grateful grandmother of 11 grandchildren and counting.
Having benefited from the wisdom and encouragement of other homeschool parents throughout her own journey, Maureen remains committed to giving back through Homeschool Connections and its many efforts to support families “in the thick of it.”
About Your Host
Kaitlin Zara is a veteran educator, homeschool mom, and host of the Homeschool Connections Podcast. She combines her classroom experience with the everyday realities of homeschooling to encourage parents to approach education with confidence, flexibility, and joy.